SPOTLIGHT EVENTS:

Nanci Griffith, with special guest Sara Hickman, performs

tonight at 8 at the Tennessee Theatre on Gay Street. Griffith’s 1993

performance here with John Prine was a refreshingly intimate evening of

stories and song. On her Grammy-winning Other Voices, Other Rooms

album, she paid tribute to her musical influences. Her new album,

Flyer, showcases a different part of her songwriting style.

“It’s a departure for me in terms of writing technique,” she said of the

new material. “Instead of writing fiction, I came up with a whole album of

up-close and personal Nanci Griffith.”

While many of her songs have been made popular by other artists, Griffith’s

own delivery can’t be beat for its straightforward sincerity.

Sara Hickman’s third album, Necessary Angels, will be released July

1 on Discovery Records. Hickman has already caused a buzz, earning critical

acclaim in the Dallas area. Tonight’s concert offers the chance to catch

this rising star and be able to say in years to come, “I saw her

when–.”

At 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6, at the Church Street United Methodist

Church, experience the Gregorian chant magic of the Gloriae Dei

Cantores. This world-class, 44-member American choir offers a message

of peace and reconciliation among all peoples. The group has been together

since 1972 and has produced 15 digital recordings. Admission to the concert

is $10, or $7 for seniors and students.

At the UT MUSIC HALL:

Shelley Binder, UT assistant professor of flute, will perform at 5 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 5. The program will include works by 20th century American

composers such as Copland and Bloch. Binder is the newest member of the UT

Music Department faculty. The performance is free.

The Transylvania Quadrant Ensemble, of Transylvania University in

Lexington, Ky., will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5. The program will

include works by Haydn, Brahms and Norman Dello Joio. Admission is

free.

UT Music faculty member David Brunell will perform “A Chopin

Tribute” on piano at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Among the Chopin offered will

be Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Waltz in A-Flat Major, Fantasy in F minor

and several Etudes, Preludes and Mazurkas. It’s free.

Tuesday, Feb. 7, John Dressler, a professor of music at Murray State

University, will perform on horn at 8 p.m. He will be accompanied by

pianist Marie Taylor, also of Murray State, and UT Music faculty members

Calvin Smith and Keith McClelland.

At the KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART:

Alive After Five presents the StringTrio of New York tonight

from 5:30 to 8. This highly experimental group has influenced classical and

jazz music since 1977, performing around the world. WUOT broadcasts Alive

After Five performances live between 6 and 8:30 p.m. Admission to the

concert is $5, $2.50 with UT ID and free to KMA members.

Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m., the KMA

will present its Family Film Festival. Admittance to these films are

free and open to the public. The films, both animated and live-action, are:

Lord of the Sky, the story of the trickster “Raven,” based on

a Native American myth; Zlata the Goat, from an Isaac Singer

book; Monkeys Fishing the Moon, dealing with the dances of

the rural Chinese; and Blackfly, based on Canadian

folklore.

KNOXVILLE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA:

The KCO will perform Saturday, Feb. 4, and Sunday, Feb. 5, at the

Bijou Theatre. Kirk Trevor will conduct “Vienna 1770-1920 — the

Golden Years I.”

At the LAUREL THEATRE, Laurel Avenue and 16th Street:

Mala Pasupathi will offer lessons in Classical Indian Dance Saturday,

Feb. 4, and Sunday, Feb. 5, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tuition is $32

($8 per hour per student). Pre-registration is required, so call today at

522-5851.

From Zimbabwe, Chris Mhlanga and Chartwell Dutiro, masters of

the African mbira, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.

Admission is $8 in advance and $9 at the door, $7 for Jubilee Community

Arts members and $2 for children.

Hey, kids, do you like to rock ‘n’ roll?:

ELECTRIC BALLROOM, Blackstock Avenue:

The Five and Dime Showcase will feature the super-heavy sounds

of Malice In Wonderland, Alicin’s Journal, DV8 and

Road Kill. This is an all-ages show and starts at 8. Admission is

$4.

Sunday, Feb. 5, offers a Teens Only Dance Night from 7 to 11 p.m.

Admission for patrons 19 years and under is $5.

FLAMINGO’S, 1836 Cumberland Avenue:

Unlce Mingo, from Charleston,S.C., performs tonight at 10. Also

appearing is Stinkfoot (featuring ex-members of El Smarto) and

Jive (which was called Pasta last week). Admission is $5.

One Tribe Reggae performs Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m.

New Potato Caboose plays Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m.

GRYPHON’S, 2003 Highland Ave.:

Sans Sobriety, from Greensboro, NC, and surprise local rockers

will perform tonight at 9. This show is free and open to all ages.

Knoxville’s world-famous Rude Street Peters and brand new group

LD-50 will perform Sat., Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. If you haven’t been to a

Rude Street Peters show, you haven’t really been to Knoxville. The band’s

newest tape release is called Don’t Make Me Get Up. The show is

free.

MANHATTAN’S in the Old City:

Monday’s Club Eclectic will feature the “groove jams” of

Stem, with special guest Surber and Frazier, at 10 p.m.

Admission is $3.

MERCURY THEATRE, Market Square:

Revolution Block and Psychosonic Cindi will perform Friday, Feb.

3, at 10 p.m.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, the Smoking Popes will perform with

No Empathy and The Oblivians. This is an all-ages matinee

show, starting at 5 p.m. Admission is $5.

Sunday evening, Club Pompeii Dance Night shakes the house. Admission

is $1 for the guys and free for the gals.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, Lovebucket returns to the Mercury for a 10 p.m.

show. Admission is $5.

SASSY ANN’S, 820 N. 4th Ave. (formerly Zarbo’s):

Free Fourmula will perform Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. Admission is

$2.

TOMATO HEAD, Market Square:

Exit 65 will celebrate their 9th Anniversary Show Saturday, Feb.4.,

in the evening. Door prizes will be offered. Admission is $2.

FILM:

Captain Ron is showing tonight and Saturday at the UC. Showtimes

are at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.

THEATRE:

CLARENCE BROWN THEATRE (on campus):

The Grapes of Wrath opens tonight and runs through Feb. 19.

Showtime is at 8 p.m.

WEST SIDE DINNER THEATRE, 12801 Kingston Pike (in Farragut)—

Shows Thurs., Fri. and Sat.– the buffet starts at 6:45 p.m. and the

show begins at 8:15 p.m. Reservation required, available at

966-8768:

Don’t Dress for Dinner shows tonight and concludes its run

Saturday, Feb. 4.

The comedy Send Me No Flowers opens Thursday, Feb. 9.

Auditions will be held Sunday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. for Seance

Fiction, an original comedy by local playwright/comedian Mark

Hatmaker. Multiple roles are available. For more info, call 938-7167.

ART:

Performing artist Ginger Roberts will offer a lecture and slide

presentation today at 1 p.m. in Room 109 of the Art & Architecture

Building.

The Ewing Gallery holds hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday

through Friday; from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and from 1

p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Primal Impulse, an exhibit of German expressionism, is new at the

Knoxville Museum of Art.

Hansen Artsource currently offers an exhibit of three regional

artists at their Main Gallery, and an exhibit by Robert Tino at the

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Building.

OPEN MIC READINGS:

The Torch Coffee House: Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Admission $1.

Ivory’s: Mondays at 9 p.m. Call 588-6023 for sign-up.

Gryphon’s — Rus’ Romper Room: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Free.

Java, a Coffee House: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Free

Manhattan’s: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. sign-up). Free.